By Bassey Nkponam
UYO
The Akwa Ibom governor has sworn-in the 31 local government chairmen and their vice with a charge on them to deliver on their promises, and ensure they utilise the resources that will be availed to them to advance the welfare of their people and statutory responsibilities associated with their office.
Pastor Umo Eno, who gave the charge Monday, while swearing in the newly elected council chairmen and their vice at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Uyo, recalled that thousands of people conducted themselves peacefully and orderly and voted for them during the election with deep expectations.
Eno congratulated them on their victory at the polls, and commended them for keeping their campaigns within the ambit of the ARISE Agenda gains and aspirations on the one hand and the electorates for responding positively during the elections on the other.
He recalled that the campaigns by them on government’s record of service to the people as outlined in the ARISE Agenda resulted in the overwhelming response by the electorates who enthusiastically elected them to serve them.
The governor said this show of solidarity as was expressed by the people places on them a great burden, a burden to deliver on their promises, a burden to ensure utilisation of the resources they would be availed with to advance their welfare and statutory responsibilities associated with their office.
Eno reminded them that with the current autonomy in their financial dealings, which entails receiving their funds directly, it behoves on them to remember the shared responsibilities of government such as payment of teachers’ salaries and allowances across board, as well as gratuities.
He noted that his administration is big on welfare of civil servants, as demonstrated in the last 15 months in office, noting that to date, government has paid N35 billion gratuities, both at the state and local government levels.
The governor said, “it is expected of you to continue, we expect us to sit down and understand our shared commitment to our people. We expect that there is really no autonomy in governance. We work hand in hand, and we make sure that our people have what it takes.
“This government is big on rural development, and it is a key vocal area of our ARISE Agenda. We expect that you cooperate with us to continue to do projects in your local government areas that will bring and signpost our people to the fact that they too, are part of governance.
“Let me add here that autonomy does not mean you are running separate entities from the State government. You are an integral part of the machinery of government, and in governance, you are expected to align your actions and policies with our governance blueprint, the ARISE Agenda.
“You are also the chief security officers of your respective local government areas. You must ensure that you maintain the peace we have come to enjoy in this State within your council areas. Work with the youths, the women, the elders. Galvanise them to see that government and governance can indeed be a force for good.”
Eno stressed the need for them to live in their various local government areas, saying, “You are autonomous, so stay in your autonomous communities. You cannot be a local government chairman in Ika, and you are living in Oron. We will not encourage local government chairmen that are visiting chairmen. Stay in the various local government areas of your jurisdiction”.
He appreciated the immediate past transition chairmen for their services to their respective councils and to the State in general, noting that though their tenure was short, they did a good job and that the experience they garnered will help prepare them for the next assignment to the state and nation.
Eno also thanked the chairman of the Akwa Ibom Independent Electoral Commission (AKISIEC), Elder Aniedi Ikoiwak and his team for conducting the elections which have been widely adjudged as free, fair and credible as evident in the emergence of winners across party lines.
He urged those who have emerged on other party platforms to see their service to the people as the central purpose of their election.
“To the chairman of Essien Udim Local Government Area, your election and subsequent swearing in today as the chairman of Essien Udim means that the process was fair. So, you’re expected to imbibe our spirit and work with the government of the state to ensure that we deliver the dividends of democracy to our people. There is no APC or PDP in grassroots governance. Let them see you as the chairman of Essien Udim, and not the chairman of APC.”
The returning chairman of Eket Local Government Council, Mr. Akaninyene Tommey, who spoke on behalf of others, thanked the people for the massive support which culminated in his emergence as chairman and that of other candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Tommey noted that the performance of the PDP at the polls was not unconnected to the impressive performance of the Umo Eno-led PDP government in the State, pledging to replicate the track record of the governor at the local government level.
Discussion about this post